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Study: Spokane County Fairgrounds drives millions in local spending; staff recommends renewing ticketing contract
Summary
A consultant presented an economic impact study finding the fairgrounds generate roughly $25M–$70M in annual economic activity (fair + year‑round events). Fair staff recommended awarding admissions and ticketing services to TicketsWest (parent Pac/West) and placing a contract on next week's agenda for board approval.
A March 17 presentation by Johnson Consulting and Spokane County fair staff framed the county fairgrounds as a significant local economic engine and asked the board to approve a new admissions and ticketing contract.
Consultant Charlie Johnson said the fairgrounds operate year‑round and that the non‑fair events generate the bulk of economic activity. “When you roll it up to the next slide, you're a $70,000,000 a year operation,” Johnson said, summarizing tourism‑style economic modeling that counted attendee spending, out‑of‑town visitors and hotel room nights. The study estimated millions in local spending, supported jobs and roughly $5.4 million in combined tax revenues across jurisdictions (state, local and other taxing authorities) from fair and non‑fair events.
Why it matters: the county manages a busy, urban fairgrounds that draws out‑of‑market visitors and weekend events; the consultant said the facility’s year‑round use stabilizes operations and increases regional tax receipts. Staff and the consultant urged a capital plan and place‑making improvements to maximize future returns and better serve urban visitors.
Following the study, fair manager Erin (presenter) told the board the county issued an RFP for admission/ticketing services and received three proposals (eTix, SapphireTix and Pac/West/TicketsWest). Erin recommended awarding the contract to Pac/West/TicketsWest based on their on‑site staffing capacity, product features and a lower proposed price. The proposed contract term would be annual renewals with a possible extension up to seven years; staff asked the board to place the contract on next week’s agenda for approval so work can proceed ahead of the fair season.
The consultant’s methodology used event attendance, survey and market assumptions to estimate out‑of‑market visitation, spending categories (lodging, food, retail) and job multipliers. Johnson said the fair program is in the upper quartile for fairs of its size and that non‑fair bookings (trade shows, sporting events and other rentals) are a critical revenue source.
Staff noted the fair also operates with a modest county ask for operations but faces deferred maintenance and capital needs; the consultant recommended a prioritized capital plan to catch up on maintenance and to improve placemaking around the grounds to boost visitation and hotel stays.
What the board will decide: fair staff requested a formal contract award on next week’s agenda and asked for continuing capital‑planning work; no vote occurred at this meeting. Staff also said they will deliver the finalized economic impact report and related materials to commissioners and the municipal consortium.
Ending: commissioners were supportive of pursuing a contract with TicketsWest and asked staff to bring the contract forward on the next regular agenda.
